Two striking new additions to Sunderland’s skyline are closing in on completion.

Maker & Faber – distinctive Grade A office buildings at Riverside Sunderland – are now scaffold-free with both buildings now complete only the external landscaping remains before tenants can move in.

Set to welcome businesses this year, the offices now stand proudly on the cliff’s edge overlooking the River Wear. Maker and faber form part of Sunderland’s transforming cityscape and are welcoming viewings, having already secured a deal with their first tenant RSA.

The buildings add to a strong commercial property portfolio across Riverside Sunderland that includes City Hall, The Beam and The Yard – all of which have proven popular since opening in this transforming city quarter.  Maker and Faber are being marketed by joint agents JLL and Knight Frank.

Funded and developed by Legal & General, working with development partner Landid, Maker & Faber aim to attract exciting companies from across the UK to Riverside Sunderland, between them creating thousands of jobs that will boost the heart of the city.  They stand to the north of City Hall, which has already established itself as a popular public sector hub with Sunderland City Council, Gentoo, Sunderland College and DWP among the businesses operating from the multi-award-winning base.

The Beam is now fully occupied, with companies including Ocado, North East Screen and Apexon among the tenants creating jobs for local people from the centre – the first to be constructed on the site.

The offices have significantly boosted Sunderland’s commercial property portfolio, with a burgeoning business landscape that includes businesses like Just Eat, Barclays, Fairstone and Hays Travel.

James Silver, managing director of Landid, said: “We’re proud to see Maker & Faber standing proudly at the heart of what has to be the most exciting regeneration scheme in the UK right now, at Riverside Sunderland.

“Maker & Faber are incredible buildings.  All electric and with sustainability at their heart they also boast the most stunning views over the river and out to sea. They are plugged into the city centre with leisure and transport links just a short walk away.”

Maker & Faber have been developed as part of Legal & General’s £100m commitment to Riverside Sunderland, representing 150,000 sq ft of space to add to the city’s growing office portfolio. The developments within the Riverside site will create a vibrant, mixed-use site that will comprise 1,000 new homes for up to 2,500 residents, as well as places to enjoy such as Culture House. New commercial premises in Riverside Sunderland will amount to 1m sq ft of space, with 10,000 people set to work from the area.     

The new buildings will be home to businesses of all sizes, and the team behind Maker & Faber have confirmed they are closing in on a number of lettings that would bring hundreds of new jobs to the heart of the city.

James Silver added: “In just a few months, we’ll be opening our doors and welcoming businesses and their teams,. We are hoping to make further announcements about occupiers soon.  We’re talking with a number of major employers, which is a brilliant vote of confidence ahead of practical completion, and great news for local people who will secure new roles.”

Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Maker & Faber, and indeed the portfolio of fantastic commercial office locations based in and around Riverside Sunderland, sends a strong message that we are very much open for business in this city.

“Sunderland is absolutely transforming with more than £3bn investment flooding into all corners of the city and the impact of that will be huge for our residents, with more jobs and opportunities as we attract ambitious companies that want to be part of our increasingly dynamic business community.”

To stay up to date with Maker and Faber’s development and watch the video visit www.makerfaber.co.uk or follow @makerandfaber on social media.  To enquire about space within the buildings, contact [email protected] or on 07928 525 992 or contact Patrick Matheson at Knight Frank at [email protected] or on 0191 594 5001.

Or to find out more about other commercial property in Sunderland, visit www.mysunderland.co.uk/business-sites